Category: Book Reviews

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.

When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review:

When Love Never Ends is the love story of Sam and Sara, once separated, then reunited, then lost to each other again … unless Sam can find a way to change their destiny. As with many young couples, Sam and Sara meet at a dance, start dating, and soon fall in love. Sam is a college man; Sara only a junior in high school-but for Sam, the age difference doesn’t matter. Sara is the girl of his dreams. He wants to be with her, and she with him, and they look forward to a future together. Plans for that happy future, however, are squashed when Sara’s bigoted father, Ralph Henderson, finds out about Sam’s mixed Japanese-Caucasian heritage. Henderson refuses to allow his daughter to date a “breed,” and devises a cruel scheme to separate them for good. Years later, Sara seeks legal help, and the lawyer she contacts is Sam, now a partner in a prestigious law firm. Though she’s in a difficult personal situation, Sara’s feelings for Sam are easily rekindled, as are his feelings for her. Just when it looks like they will be able to have a future together after all, catastrophe occurs.

After months of crippling grief and depression, Sam develops an interest in his friend’s pet project dealing with time travel. Though Sam once scoffed at the idea, the improbable now seems his only hope: to travel back in time and change the order of events-to change their destiny. When Love Never Ends is a rich saga of a love that endures beyond all bounds. J. Alec Keaton’s evocative images, true-to-life characters, and clever plot twists are exactly on point. He deftly maneuvers the complex concept of time travel in a manner that is both satisfying and convincing. As his main character comes to realize, “Time goes on forever, and life is just a fleeting moment.”

Soften margarine and mix with sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, beat well. Add dry ingredients, nuts and avocado. Spray 3 loaf pans with PAM and pour mixture evenly. Bake at 350 in oven for 45 minutes. (the time may vary slightly depending on the exact temperature of your oven)

Double recipe to make 5 loaves.

Review

Sam never uttered the words “I love you” to any woman with whom he had a sexual relationship. He had said those three words only to Sara, who was the love of his life. Threatened and intimidated by her father, Sam had walked away from her a long time ago. That happened in 1966 and now, thirteen years later, he was still in love with her. Sam tried not to think of her, but in the deepest reaches of his heart, he could never forget her. A man never forgets his first love. Sam’s ultimate desire was to correct the one mistake he’d made long ago. His friend, Dr. Jeremiah Ebenezer Pike, always talked about the possibility of time travel. If it was possible to travel back in time, then I’d correct the mistake I made in leaving Sara, Sam thought.

It was only since the loss of his wife four years ago that Ebb had been obsessed with the concept of time travel. On a Wednesday, Sam met Ebb for dinner. “Ebb, tell me more about your project of time travel.”

Sara’s father was a bit of a bigot. When he found out that Sam was part Japanese he forbid Sam to see Sara. With there being a 5 year age difference he threatened Sam with statutory rape, along with threats regarding Sam’s parents as well as Sara herself if he didn’t break it off with her immediately without allowing her to know that her father had intervened. Sam had always wanted to be an attorney and this dream would be destroyed if he went to jail. He also worried about what would happen to his parents if his dad lost his job and how Sara would thrive with her father controlling her every move. He had no choice but to break it off, hurting both of them more than either could imagine.

Sam saw his dream and became a graduate of Harvard University. He met Elliot Benson who was the controlling partner in an exclusive law firm that represented some of the more wealthy clients in Seattle. Benson took an immediate liking to Sam and offered him a position within the firm. Sam was impressed but had committed to work for Senator Kennedy in Washington for four or five years. After completing this he would return to Seattle and if Benson still wanted him he was his.

After returning to Seattle, Sam’s life was still incomplete. The missing element was Sara so when she walked into his office one day asking if he would represent her in her divorce against an abusive husband, Sam felt the missing pieces of his life coming back together. Until……

This book is so beautifully filled with love and commitment. It also holds hate and disappointments. But then it holds the possibility of everything being corrected and happiness falling upon everyone within Sam and Sara’s lives. This was a truly enjoyable book with a surprise around every corner.

“When Love Never Ends” is a wonderful portrayal of young first love. In the summer of 1965, Sara Henderson, a junior in high school, attends a college dance with her best friend Becky.and her sister Rose. At the dance, she meets her “Prince Charming”, Sam Stephens, a senior and a quarterback.at the college. For Sara, Sam is all that a girl could ever want in a man, handsome, tall, charismatic, and intelligent. Sam and Sara date throughout the summer and fall madly in love.

Sara’s father, Ralph Henderson, upon meeting Sam immediately dislikes Sam, because he looked a half breed. He had his buddy, Detective Frank Sorenson to investigate Sam. Ralph and Frank are members of the Mountaineer Club, consisting of men with similar racist & bigoted views. Upon learning that Sam is half Japanese and half Caucasian, they derive a scheme so Sam would never see his daughter Sara again.

Years later, Sam graduates from Harvard Law School and becomes successful lawyer/partner with the top law firm in Seattle but he never stopped loving Sara, One day, she walks into his office seeking his council and the love that they had for each other is rekindled, but tragedy does not elude them.

The author, J.Alec Keaton, superbly writes about young love and what their life could have been if we could travel back in time and change the course of action in our lives. He reminds us that wrong decisions we make today can adversely affect our future. It is book of fantasy of “What ifs”.

“When Love Never Ends” is a very touching love story which combines some sad, hurtful events with racial overtones that tug your heart. Keaton portrays the intense power of first (and forbidden) young love with skill and sensitivity, but also with some intense and tantalizing erotica that makes the pages turn fast and furious.

A story of love and caring. Sam is able to travel back in time with the help of his friend Ebb and right the wrongs of the past so that he might live a happier life. He also changes the past for Ebb so that they both share happiness in their future.

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.

When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review:

This is the story of a Kiwi elf named Yvette (her friends call her Yve) who lives on Rakiura/Stewart Island–the third largest island in New Zealand. And this little elf has a very big dream…

The great wish of her heart, of her mind, of her soul

Was to join St. Nick’s team at the frosty North Pole.

But how does an elfish lass follow her dream?

With a smoldering passion, and a will full of steam.

New Zealand is a long, long way from Santa and the North Pole, but Yve is determined to join St. Nick and his eight reindeer…and this Christmas Eve, her wish just might come true!

* courtesy of Amazon.com

Featured Reviews: “ : A Cosmic Christmas Adventure!”

Christmas Yve is very eloquently written and has so much depth that you will enjoy listening to it again and again and hear something new each time. It is a true work of art that is not only excellent for children but also for the spiritual seeker looking to understand the deeper meaning of Christmas. Stephen paints pictures with his words and you feel part of the story. The message I got was: not to be afraid and to trust with all of your heart. If you do- one day you’ll have the opportunity to Jump into the love you yearn to feel. If you do Jump you will experience a whole new life that you could only dream was possible before. It will be your new reality. Savor this work of art! You’ll love it!

“Christmas Yve” is a magical journey that expands your imagination to the yonder years of your childhood. Yve reminds us of the innocence that each child experiences during Christmas, as well as taking the leap of faith; “the impossible jump to growing up”.

A tale of Christmas so sweet and enchanting, you’ll be hooked from the start—such passion and rhyming! Reminiscent of writings so clever, but whose? Not Tennyson, Not Kipling, Not Emerson, but SEUSS! So heed this advice–(you’ll be happy you did!)–snuggle up on the couch and enjoy it with your kid!

What a heartwarming Christmas tale! The New Zealand setting sets it apart from most Christmas stories. I especially loved the charming Kiwi accent of the narrator and the life lessons intertwined throughout the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to sharing it with my family this upcoming Christmas season.

“For Yve’s way of thinking, Santa Claus was a saint, more than a white beard, red suit – oh, so quaint- but a servant to Him without equal, bar none, the Christ in Christmas: the “only Begotten Son.”” I love this line in the book. I want my children to know that Christmas is not just about Santa, it is also about Him. This is a must read for my family during the holiday season.

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.

When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review:

TOUCHSTONE by Linda Eatmon-Jones is an inspirational biography of her husband, Earle F. Jones’ life and the incredible family legacy he was born into. The devastation of a Ku Klux Klan raid, burning down all of his family’s property in the early 1920s, created a determination in his grandfather not to let that traumatic event define the family’s future. The resiliency, strength and courage his grandfather used to create a new future for their family started a legacy of success that contributed to the successful man Earle is today. The lessons taught to each generation of letting education guide your destiny is Earle’s road map to being a life student, compassionate friend, accomplished professional and caring citizen of the world. The essays, written by family, friends and colleagues bear out how Earle embodies those lessons created by a family legacy.

* courtesy of Amazon.com

Featured Reviews: ““

Touchstone is an open love note of appreciation from a loving and devoted wife to a husband who has shouldered the many burdens of the world and amazingly found a way to remain steadfast in such a way that will inspire generations beyond his family unit.

Linda did an absolutely outstanding job bringing Earle’s family to life on paper. The book captures all his phases in life, and makes them come together as, “the slices of a whole pie” and they fit nicely together. As his sister-in-law, I have an advantage that most don’t have in seeing him up close and personal. His logical thinking makes you do an “aha” sometimes. His advice is mostly never off course and the book conveys his character to a tee.

– Reverend Jennifer Gatling-Sharpe

Reading the book makes you think about your own legacy. Motivational and inspiring!

The book is about “Love” and strong family ties that show how the author’s husband is destined to help others live a better life. I use it as a teaching tool to some of the kids in our sports tennis club. It lets them know there is nothing you cannot overcome if you put your mind & heart into it.

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.

When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review:

Five teenagers from diverse backgrounds are brought together by a war. A Japanese, a Jew, a Native American, an African American, and a white kid from middle-class America form an interdependent relationship in the jungles of Vietnam. They become the most highly decorated squad in a war they don’t understand, but their relationships transcend the social structures of racism formed through historical injustices, and they remain best friends for decades. Their iconic leader, Billy Stone, one day finds himself entangled with a Medicare scam dreamed up by his sister’s husband. For his sister’s sake, he must find a solution. The livelihoods of the others form within the law enforcement communities in their individual and collective quest for justice as they grow from boys to men of great character.

Even the strongest of character has its flaws, but these men are the best of the best, and there is only one adversity they cannot overcome. From the Selma-to-Montgomery march, the internment camps of WWII, the poverty and desolation of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation; to the estrangement of a father and son and a suicide of great consequence, this team of five becomes one. At the same time, there are “takers” like Billy’s brother-in-law who infect the American system. They need to be brought to justice, but the price will be high. On the smallest of scales, this is an epic tale of how the dream of a world community can become a reality.

* courtesy of Amazon.com

Featured Review: ““

This cinematographic novel examines dreams for a better America against a callous political system.

Bob Siqveland’s The Vicissitudes of Fortune is an epic tale of five racially and socially diverse young men thrust into the sweltering jungles of Vietnam to fight a new kind of war for a reason they do not understand. With their lives in each other’s hands, they band together to become the war’s most decorated squad, bound by one of the strongest and most enduring of human bonds: the brotherhood of soldiers who have borne the hell of war together.

Weaving fictional narrative with historical information, Siqveland traces the lives of these five soldiers––a Native American, a Jew, an African American, one of Japanese descent, and a middle-class white kid—placing them in the midst of the tumult of twentieth century America with its racism, greed, social inequity, and class distinctions.

The overarching story is that of squad leader Billy Stone, whose beloved younger sister is endangered by her husband’s involvement in a massive Medicare scam. When the scam is revealed with tragic results, the bond between these courageous and honorable men is all that holds them and their families together.

Siqveland provides startling facts and behind-the-scenes information on some of the pivotal events and personages of the past century, vibrantly bringing to life everything from World War II and the Japanese internment camps, to the wars and broken treaties that marked US relations with Native American tribes, to Haight-Ashbury and the “Summer of Love.” Justice, or the lack thereof, is another strong theme, and Siqveland’s five protagonists all come to work in the legal system, the FBI, the CIA, tribal leadership, or law enforcement.

Siqveland writes with fire and passion, but his characters are also convincing in scenes of quiet reflection, love, and tenderness. Some descriptions are necessarily graphic and disturbing. At their beginnings, historical sections tend to be long, slowing the narrative flow.

As events draw to a climax, the pacing picks up; almost every chapter ends with a cliff-hanger, impelling forward movement. Descriptions are vivid and colorful, and emotions ranging from rage to the sweetness of love are handled with subtlety and skill.

Dialogue is authentic in feel and tone, and settings are colorfully drawn. Characters are fully developed, both believable and sympathetic. Along with their strength, courage, and high ethical standards, their flaws are also revealed, making it easy to relate to their struggles and care about them. A final scene proves disappointing, as two characters escape the consequences of their crime.

Cinematographic in scope, Bob Siqveland’s The Vicissitudes of Fortune pits hopes and dreams for a better America and a safer, saner world against the egomaniacal quest for power and money that infects the political system at all levels. Conspiracies, cover-ups, and secrets abound, while against this dark backdrop, the character, dignity, and love of five young soldiers shine like a beacon that spans decades, giving hope for future generations.

What Other Reviewers Are Saying …

Drawing on his background as an Army Captain commanding a field artillery battery, Bob created this riveting tale of five men from diverse backgrounds who served together and bonded during the Vietnam war. Their story is interwoven with a modern-day journey through character, greed and corruption relevant to today’s political landscape.

Engaging characters and crisp dialogue provide enlightening background on subjects as diverse as native American history, Medicare scams, treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II, politics, social inequity and race relations.

Bob’s often stream-of-consciousness writing includes philosophical thoughts and anecdotes which highlight the theme of justice / injustice in all forms. ultimately it’s a reminder of how dignity and character can make a difference in our world.

Siqveland truly is a master storyteller! And, this book is a real page turner. The plot is well conceived, and the characters are interesting and come from such varied backgrounds. It is those varied backgrounds that allow Siqveland to incorporate a number of historically important events of the time. The history buffs will find the facts well-researched and accurate, and all of us will enjoy being reminded of those important events. Another fun characteristic of Siqveland’s work is the inclusion of several proverbs and famous quotes everything from Confucius to Churchill.

Book Trailer:

Author Interview:

ATAI: Tell us a little about you.

Bob Siqveland: I’m now 73 but am happy to say that friends and relatives still tell me to “grow up.” I tell them, “I know a bunch of grown-ups and they’re not much fun.” I tell those that will listen to find their passion. I have five or six passions, all on the right side of my brain. These include painting, wood carving and music (as a recording artist and songwriter). I once considered getting an MRI just to see if I even had a left brain. But, among the ironies of life, I have been involved in left brain businesses most of my life, primarily as a venture capitalist and manager. I have to credit my time as a Commander in the Army for nurturing certain leadership qualities that I have carried forward in my career. I have started a number of companies in the past 50 years and currently work in the gaming industry. I don’t think I will ever retire. I love the motion and energy of being productive, plus to re-tire, you must have been tired in the first place…which I never was.

ATAI: How long have you been writing?

Bob Siqveland: I have been involved in written communications most of my life, but in 2003 I decided to write a novel. It was a response to the disclosures from a John Jay College of Criminal Justice study about pedophilia in the Catholic Church. As a Catholic, I was angry and titled the book accordingly. The story ended up being about growing up in the 1950’s and 60’s, not unlike Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye.

ATAI: What was your most recent release?

ATAI: What do you love most about writing?

Bob Siqveland: In a nutshell, the creativity. Like a painting, or a wood sculpture, creating art from nothing and have people say, “loved it. I laughed, I cried, and almost everything in between.” That is the reward.

ATAI: What do you find most challenging?

ATAI: Where do your ideas come from?

Bob Siqveland: Something someone said, a verse from a song, a personal reaction, I write it down, then add a sentence which turns into a paragraph which becomes a chapter. After that, my metaphorical creative horses break out of the corral and run to the four winds. I lose control and at some point, stop to catch my breath, recruit some help (like an editor) to go round up the mustangs. Almost seems that I’m not steering the story, it’s pulling me along. That probably sounds weird, but segues to your next question.

ATAI: What is your writing process?

Bob Siqveland: Most unconventional I’d have to say. Jack Kerouac’s On the Roadmight have been the best example of “stream of consciousness” writing. I understand. I have no outline or structure. Something strange happens. Where I find myself searching for a word or a name in conversation, when I write, there is uninterrupted flow…like magic. I keep forging ahead until the bell rings, then I bring in the reserves to clean up the mess. Kind of strange, huh?

ATAI: Do your characters (or message) ever seem to have a life of their own or an agenda of their own?

Bob Siqveland: With my characters, I sometimes feel a conflict of interest. Playing God with these people’s lives is emotional as well as creative. I gave birth to an iconic character who became my friend, developed him and then killed him to make the story work. I felt sad; a strong sense of loss. I didn’t write for two days. Some of my readers were mad at me for doing that, but it made the story work.

ATAI: What’s your favorite part of your book (or one of your books)?

Bob Siqveland: In The Vicissitudes of Fortune, Billy Stone, a Vietnam vet goes to Mexico to put his life in perspective. My sentient radar is on overload as he purges his demons. His time there is special to me as the author. He sits down to watch and absorb a sunset.

Only once did his mind get caught up in thoughts about Nam, that being when a flock of pelicans did their dive bomb thing, not far off shore, snapping up the surface fish as they submerged and took off again with gunny sack chins full of wriggling appetizers. They would circle and come back for more, the first batch probably still wriggling in undigested stomachs. In any event, it sparked the vision of diving Douglas A-4 Skyhawk’s strafing the jungles with napalm, and in the heat of the day, he shivered.

And so tomorrow became today while certain events that happened yesterday lost their clarity and faded into a bigger and more generic timeframe called the past, slipping away like grade school best friends forever, whose names and faces become harder to remember, while strangely, one might recall the faces of the parents. Time has been called a thief, but for the dispassionate, it’s but a pickpocket; for those who lust from the very depths of their spiritual marrow for connection to every grain of life’s essentia, time is a mugger, and Billy had always been a person of passion.

If there were dog days of summer in Mexico, they were different than the northern hemisphere intensity, and for Billy they were metaphorically, puppy days; soft and warm and fuzzy, with eyebrows that said a hundred things, and nights when sweet pup breath and a pink tongue seemed to lick the wounds of a survivor in a loving effort to bring solace. A little at a time, it did. Still, like puppy tails, Billy’s mind was in constant motion. The only truth Billy knew for sure was that he had lived, others not.

ATAI: What are you working on next?

Bob Siqveland: I’m just not sure. This story took a lot out of me. I’m not sure I can do any better. We’ll see.

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.

When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review:

All things considered, it was a good day to die . . When Marrington Castle is overtaken by a dark and ancient evil, Abigail Cross finds herself in the precarious situation of protecting Queen Rachel the Fourth. Her journey to safety quickly transforms into a quest to save Queen and country. Charged with finding the artifacts to raise The Champion to defeat the world’s most powerful enemy, Abigail finds herself traversing the perilous continent-from the roaring waterfalls of Aithos to the scorching heat of the Optato Desert to the freezing fog of Mount Karn…. Will Abigail succeed in uniting the kingdom and summoning the Avant Champion to save them all?

* courtesy of Amazon.com

Featured Review: ““

When her education fund runs out, student Abigail Cross temporarily works as Queen Rebekah’s servant to raise some money for her studies. One night, as she accompanies the Queen back to her quarters from a celebration party, they are attacked by terrifying creatures known as The Swallowers, and her brother Paul is killed instantly. Abigail finds herself tasked with protecting the Queen and a quest to summon the legendary Avant Champion to fight an ancient enemy. Roaming the continent to find the necessary means and items to do the summoning, Abigail learns more about the land’s dark history, and discovers love and new friends, as well as learning her family’s secret role in the kingdom.

I like the world-building of The Avant Champion: Rising by C.B. Samet. It’s not as complex and different as most fantasy writers tend to create, but it’s just as fascinating and detailed. There’s the Caballus Clans, people who bred the finest horses in the land and the holy tribe of Gunthi monks that secluded themselves in the remote canyon, and many more interesting communities. Samet used familiar aspects from both the real world and fantasy world, cleverly blending them together. I find the concept of how the evil beings came to be quite ingenious. The illustrations at the start of each chapter are eye-catching and complement the story well. The pace of the plot is moderate; fast enough to keep the plot flowing in an engaging manner, but appropriately slow enough to let readers get to know the characters, their antagonists, backstory, and the world-building. Overall, this is a solid fantasy from Samet.

What Other Reviewers Are Saying …

I received this arc book to review and enjoyed every minute of it. I was enthralled by the storyline and taken away by all the different creatures and places. It was amazing to read how a champion is selected and how to save their country. Abigail’s journey is a very dangerous one and there are many obstacle’s for her to overcome along the way. I loved the subtle romance that grows throughout the story. The banter between Abby and Joshua is so adorable and sexy. This story has love, loss, adventure, war and survival. Abigail goes through so much heartache, yet she stays true to herself and loyal to those she loves. She is a true warrior who is determine to win the battle over evil. I also love that there is a hint of more to come. You wont be disappointed.

Great book – a friend recommended it and I read it in two days! Non-stop adventure and I loved the characters. The book also went beyond my expectations by moving beyond where I thought it would end and giving me more for my money! It ended in such a way I was happy with the result but it totally set us up for the sequel! I cant wait to see what comes up next and I will definitely check out more by this author!

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.

When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review:

The year is 1826 and Thomas Jefferson has just died. His beloved Monticello bustles with activity as funeral plans are swiftly organized for his burial in the family cemetery. Fast forward to 2026. A group of researchers specializing in regeneration technology have found success after years of work and significant investment. Dr. Pat Alexander, head researcher at BioGen, announces to the assembled group of board members/investors that the regeneration of a circus chimpanzee, which died in a runaway circus wagon accident in 1926, has met with success: The animal is alive and well.

Discussion turns to the final step in the researchers’ plan-to bring back a human being-and after careful elimination, the candidates are whittled down to one name: Thomas Jefferson. So begins this powerful debut novel-a book that examines human ambition gone wrong and chronicles the miraculous “rebirth” of the nation’s third president, his struggles to assimilate, and the world’s collective amazement at the science behind this feat. The American government swiftly becomes part of the oversight of the technology, and the 48th president personally introduces Jefferson to the 21st century. But with a lethal flaw in the researchers’ technology, the world’s unbridled excitement quickly erodes, leading to a destructive conclusion for all involved. Fortunes evaporate, beliefs are challenged, careers are ruined, and lives are lost in Dust to Dust.

* courtesy of Amazon.com

Featured Review: “Once is Not Enough.”

Slow-starter for me, but I was kept in the novel by the well-written scene descriptions which made me feel like I was there, both in 1826 and in the Bio-Gen Labs of 2026. I was waiting for more character development until I met Thomas Jefferson and discovered the contrast between the “reconstituted” but lively and interested man who had been dead for 200 years and the flatness of the contemporary characters was evidently intentional. None of the “main” characters had relationships or any kind of life except for their jobs and the hope of making money or a name for themselves. The risk-takers weren’t really willing to risk anything for the sake of posterity or the greater good of the world. Their relationships with one another were shallow and they had lost touch with whatever could give them identity, including their religious and family roots. Thomas Jefferson’s vitality was refreshing, but did it change anything? This was a subtle novel that gave me a lot to think about even when the book was finished. Needs a second reading.

What Other Reviewers Are Saying …

Not your average science fiction novel! In these days of biomedical breakthroughs, this book is based on a breakthrough that hasn’t even been dreamed about yet, so far as I know. If you can buy into a newly developed technology that allows us to regenerate a human being from long-dead remains, this is a great story with a unique plot. The 2 main characters, the research scientist and Thomas Jefferson, behave in predictable ways, but with some good twists thrown in. For me, the ending was particularly thought provoking, on issues involving the characters, and in commentary on present day politics.

Quickly predictable but engaging until the surprise ending sneaks up on you. After the first couple chapters, you pretty much know where this story is headed, or at least you think you do. John does a good job of telling a believable story, and that keeps you turning the pages until, well, until the surprise ending sneaks up on you. The Jefferson character is believable and makes some cogent observations about America 200 years ago vs today. You’ll enjoy the book.

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.

When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review:

It is truly extraordinary, the difference one woman can make in the life of a child. Beautifully written and stunningly illustrated, this delightful book for children, parents, and grandparents paints a nostalgic picture of unhurried summer days at a dear grandmother’s house. Seen and felt through the eyes of a child, every discovery is full of innocence and wonder; from an attic brimming with treasures to running through the fields at twilight catching fireflies. You will laugh and remember your own childhood and feel as though you are there sharing in all the small adventures of her little world; the baby birds, the gardening, the stormy days, and bedtime baths. And through it all, in the background, is Gramma Darling and her laughter. You sense the atmosphere of nurturing, protection, and worth that she provides; and far more importantly, you get a glimpse into the wisdom of a woman whose genuine genius for simply loving, inspires wholehearted lifetime devotion. It will leave you uplifted and looking for ways to spend quality time with the little ones in your own life.

* courtesy of Amazon.com

Featured Review:

Do you remember Grandma sitting at her sewing machine? Teaching you how to play card games and dominoes, or maybe reading you adventure stories from times past? Or perhaps serving milk and cookies after a long day in school? Grandmas have a unique bond with their grandchildren. Gramma Darling by Lissa Schroeder is the real-life account of a woman’s memories of her childhood spent with her Gramma. Gramma Darling does everything from helping her grandchildren learn to walk to sewing clothes for dolly and teddy. She is the warm memory of love and complete security. Whether she is baking in the kitchen, tending the vegetable garden or serving food at the local diner, Gramma Darling is busy, but always full of love. Quick to laugh and always ready to have fun, Gramma Darling is never too busy to play with or help her grandchildren. Gramma Darling’s house is eternally warm with her love and laughter, and full of countless adventures for her grandchildren. Patient and kind, Gramma Darling is always around for her grandchildren. Just as a Grandma should be.

A heartwarming story, Gramma Darling by Lissa Schroeder is a beautifully illustrated non-fiction children’s book that will entertain both adults and children. Although this story is about only one special Grandma, I felt that this book is a loving tribute to grammas everywhere. Reading the story, it brought back warm, happy memories of my own grandmothers. As the author says, my memories with my grandmothers held a sense of love and security. With colorful illustrations and a delicious looking recipe in the back, this book is a sweet act of love. This book would make a perfect gift for Grandma!

Other Reviewers Are Saying …

This book is an absolutely WOWZER! if there is such a word. I was very stunned and drawn in right from the start by just taking a picture walk. The illustrations are so detailed. You think they are real. They come alive. They make the story. As an adult the whole way through reading the book, I was going back and reliving my childhood. There is a warm, nostalgic mood through out this book. It is an amazing book. Beautiful in message and illustration. Just take a picture walk and see for yourself watch the book trailer below.

Schroeder’s reminiscences of childhood days spent at her grandmother’s house make a wonderful picture book. Whether it is the memory of playing in the enclosed front porch during a rain storm while Gramma works at her sewing machine, or Gramma tucking kids in at the end of another long summer day, the memories are full of love and warmth. Anyone lucky enough to have a grandmother like Gramma Darling will feel an instant kinship with the remembrance of delicious desserts made with lots of love or the safety of performing a song or skit knowing that she is always there to applaud. The circular nature of the story is a reflection of the “circle of life,” with the book opening on the scene of a grandchild just learning to walk across the rug and into Gramma’s arms, and closing with a similar scene -but this time with a great-grandchild toddling into those arms.

Doron Ben-Ami’s illustrations are so clear and crisp readers may double-check to make sure that they are not really looking at photographs. The happiness on the children’s faces as they explore in Gramma’s yard, the pleasure on her face as she watches them eat her homemade pie, and the love beaming from her smile as she waits for those hesitant steps to carry her grandchild across the room and into her arms are all captured perfectly. This is a book that will become a family tradition among readers. And what’s better than snuggling in a grandmother’s lap for a read-aloud? (Although offering the recipe for Gramma Darling’s Chocolaty Cherry Cake is also very nice.)